She had dressed well enough to be able to step outside the mansion after meeting the guests. Getting down from the stairs, she started to walk to meet the maid, who informed her,
"Milady, the guests have arrived and have been seated in the room.
"Thank you for letting me know," Belle replied back with a smile on her face.
Just as she was heading there, she saw Lucas who appeared in the corridor and his eyes fell on her. She had dressed as if she were attending a ball. Lucas was accustomed to her clothes, meticulous enough to have memorized things about her. The pleasant look on his face was replaced with a sour look because he knew those were the clothes to go out.
Last night she had spoken about going to that scoundrel's mansion which not only her parents but even he didn't approve of. A pureblooded vampire who didn't have a good reputation and women who befriended him never had good thoughts about him. The last thing he needed was the impudent boy tarnis.h.i.+ng her image.
He walked towards her, taking haughty steps. Catching hold of her wrist, he pulled her away from the hall where the guests had arrived.
Belle also knew how intuitive Lucas was and one hint was enough for him to understand things around him. He pulled her away to another corridor before letting her hand go. He then asked her,
"Are you doing this on purpose?" he asked her.
"What did I do?" Belle asked looking up at him as if she didn't know what he was talking about. This side of the corridor lacked the candles as not many were lit.
"I heard from the coachman that you have asked him to bring out the carriage because you plan to visit Gilbert's mansion once Quinn's leave," he looked at her with a grave expression, his lips set in a thin line of pure displeasure.
"I informed you that I will be going to visit and weren't you the one who said I should go meet people which will help change my mood-" Belle stopped talking when she saw Lucas glared at her as if she were a child and she glared back at him.
"And I very clearly told you that I refuse you from going there," he scowled.
"You cannot stop me from going there," Belle replied back to him and she could tell she was getting under his skin.
Lucas took a step forward and she took a step back, "Watch me."
"It's not like you're my parent or my husband-" Lucas placed his hand on the wall and Belle slightly flinched with her back touching the wall.
"Don't test my patience, little one," he moved closer to her, intimidating her with his soulless looking eyes. In the back of her mind, Belle wondered if there was another lesson waiting for her by him. She could feel Lucas' presence exuding from where she was right now and she softly gulped, his eyes following the little action, "True, I am not your parent but I will show you-"
They heard someone clear their throat and when both their eyes fell on the guest, Lucas moved back to offer the person a bow and received a bow back. The girl looked at Belle as if she had stepped on to something she shouldn't have looked and quickly made her way through the corridor and at the same time, Belle was saddened with the fact that she didn't get to hear the complete sentence Lucas had started.
"We'll continue the discussion later. The guests are waiting outside for you," Lucas changed the subject, his eyes looked ready to scowl if she was going to bring the worthless boy up again.
Belle started to head towards the hall with Lucas who followed her where neither of them spoke a word. Reaching the room, Belle was greeted by Damien Quinn who had come to the mansion with his family.
She was glad to know that it was people whom she liked where she didn't have to put a face. Damien's father, Gerald Quinn was her father's friend who knew each other which was why they were paying a visit.
"Belle, our condolences for what happened to your parents and people here. It was hard for us to believe that something so drastic took place here," said Damien, giving her a side hug which she welcomed.
"I don't think anyone would have imagined it to happen," said Belle even though she knew something bad was going to happen. Belle then finally realized who the girl was who, she and Lucas had met in the corridor. She was one of the fated stars.
"This is Penelope, Belle," Damien introduced the blonde girl. She couldn't believe how close their fates were linked to each other, thought Belle to herself.
"h.e.l.lo," Belle bowed her head again with a smile.
Lucas, on the other hand, stared at the girl who was clearly the partner of the young master. He had heard rumors from the women in soirees on how he had bought a slave from the black market. By what he could see the girl still had a long time before she would be able to use her abilities. When their eyes met, he gave her a bow.
"How are you doing dear?" asked Gerald Quinn to Belle.
"I am doing alright. I am sorry I didn't call you for the cremation," she apologized knowing the man wouldn't have minded coming to her parent's burial. Unlike her relatives, Gerald Quinn was much more genuine.
"That's alright. I am sure you needed some time for yourself. I hope everything went well?" Belle smiled with a nod, "I heard many pa.s.sed away with the unfortunate incident. Would you like us to recruit some new servants to help here, Belle?" asked Gerald.
Belle wasn't sure about it. Truthfully, Belle wasn't ready to have a new member in the mansion. Thankfully Lucas was the one who came to answer it,
"We're fine, Mr. Quinn thank you for your generous offer. With the recent infiltration, I doubt many of us would be comfortable. We have been managing fine with the remaining number of servants in the mansion," Lucas bowed his head, his voice polite and gentle as if he had never raised it against anyone.
Belle's eyes moved from Gerald and Lucas and she said, "He is right. Right now we're still sorting things around. I will let you know if I need one," she gave an a.s.suring smile.
Gerald laughed, "Of course, when you have a butler-like Lucas, he is worth at least ten other servants. But don't hesitate to ask if you need anything. I am still sad that your father didn't let me know about what happened with Wellington."
"That is very kind of you, Mr. Quinn," Bell thanked him.
